Convertible car.



No. 852,768. I PATBNTED MAY 7, 1907.

v J. A. BRILL.

CONVERTIBLE GAR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1906.

UNITED STATES Parana orrron CONVERTIBLE CAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May '7, 1907.

Application filed November 20, 1906. Serial No. 344,191.

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN A. BRILL, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Convertible Cars, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel means for closing thespace between the car floor and the movable panel in a convertible car,when closed, in such constructions of cars where the panel is adapted topass below the plane of the car floor when the car is used as a closedcar.

The particular form of car which my invention is better adapted for, isshown in my application serially numbered 323,439, filed the 26th day ofJune, 1906.

In the drawings forming part of this application Figure 1 is aperspective view of a portion of a car showing the lower ends of thestanchions anda portion of the side sills, as well as part of the carfloor. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the same portion of a carwhen the panels, are lowered for closing the side openings of the car,and also showing my improvements utilized for closing the space betweenthe floor and the panel.

In the form of car to which I have adapted my improvements, the flooring1 extends to a point near the inside of the stanchions 2. The sill isformed of an angle iron 3, or is of similar construction, so that thereis provided a vertical web 4 and a horizontal web 5, the sill formingone of the steps of the car, within the side limits of the same, asdefined by the stanchions 2. The form of the car is that which hasbecome known as the Z-sill car, in which the side sill is built up ofmetal in such a manner that the second or inner step of the car is atleast partly within the lateral limits of the car as defined by thestanchions. In this construction, the stanchions 2 rest upon the lowerweb 5 of the sill and are preferably secured thereto by metal pocket 6,in which the ends of the stanchions are fitted. The stanchions may besecured in the pocket and also against the web 4 by means of bolts 7which pass therethrough. The stanchion is provided with a panel groove 8which is continued through the groove 9 in the metal pocket as far downas the car step, or at least below the plane of the car floor. In thisconstruction, it is carried as far as the web 5 so that the panel 10when lowered, will pass below the plane of the floor and rest upon theweb 5. When thus lowered, there will be a space left between the carfloor and the panel, and it is desirable for many reasons to provide afiller for this space.

For that purpose I have provided projections which extend outwardlybetween the stanchions, and in this particular instance they consist ofa lip 11 formed at the top of the pocket 6 betweenthe groove 9 and thesill web 4.

Above the sill web I provide a pocket 12 disposed horizontally, with aslight enlargement 13, in which there is placed a longitudinal plate 14of sufficient dimensions to entirely close the space between the end ofthe floor and the panel 10 when the latter is down. This is preferablymade of flat metal having a bead 15 on its upper edge which enters inthe recess 13. When this plate is pulled outwardly, it travels on thelips 11, on which latter it finds its support.

When the panel 10 is raised to its uppermost position, it is onlynecessary to push the plate 1% inwardly when it will be concealed in thepocket 12 and will lie flush with the end of the flooring in the sillweb, thus presenting no obstruction when the car is used as an open car.The exact-position of the pocket 12 may be varied without departing fromthe spirit of my invention. As the web 5 forms an inner step of the car,a suitable running board for the first step may be supported upon thehangers 16 in the usual way.

'I'Iaving described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A convertible car having a floor and stanchions, movable panels forclosing the side openings of the car and a filler for closing the spacebetween the panel and floor, consisting of a movable plate, the carbeing provided with a recess for the reception of the said filler whenthe panel is raised.

2. A convertible car having a floor and stanchions, movable panels forclosing the side openings of the ear and a sliding filler for closingthe space between the panel and floor, consisting of a sliding plate,the car being provided with a recess for the reception of the saidfiller when the panel is raised and means for supporting the filler inits extended position.

3. A convertible car having a floor, stanchi ons, an d side sill,movable panels for closing the side openings of the car and spaced fromthe car floor, and a filler for closing the space IIC between the paneland floor, consisting of a sliding plate, and means on the stanchionsfor supporting the plate.

4. A convertible car having a floor, stanchions and side sill, movablepanels for closing the side openings of the car and spaced from the carfloor, and a filler for closing the space between the panel and floor,consisting of a sliding plate, and projections on the opposing faces ofthe stanchions for supporting the plate, the car being provided with ahorizontal recess below the surface of the floor for receiving the saidfiller.

5. A convertible car having a floor, stanchions, and side stepsextending within the lateral limits of the car, movable panels betweenthe stanchions adapted to pass below the plane of the floor and a fillerbetween the stanchions consisting of a sliding plate, means forsupporting the same between the stanchions, the car being provided Witha recess for the reception of the filler.

Signed this 7th day of November, 1906.

JOHN A. BRILL.

Witnesses:

TERRENCE MoOUsKER, HENRY C. ESLING.

